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Charlevoix County transportation board details ferry outage, plans cable replacements and RFP for contractors
Summary
At its Oct. 21 meeting the Charlevoix County Transportation Authority was briefed on a weekend ferry shutdown caused by a broken counterweight cable; staff outlined plans to replace additional cables in spring and asked an engineer to prepare a contractors’ RFP. The board also discussed contingency maintenance options.
The Charlevoix County Transportation Authority on Oct. 21 was briefed on a weekend ferry shutdown and near-term maintenance plans.
Gordie Russell, manager, said the ferry was closed over the weekend after a broken counterweight cable on the Boyne side prevented the ramp from working. Russell told the board that staff plan to replace cables on the Ironton side in the spring and that the ferry’s closing day for the season will be the day before Thanksgiving.
Joe Kroll, transportation coordinator, said maintenance of the ferry is the authority’s biggest operational issue and that he is exploring the cost of hiring an outside mechanic as a backup option. Kroll also reported the Sheriff’s Department is making ferry deposits directly to the bank and that a returned historical marker included revised language the board agreed to approve.
Eric Sandmann of Machin Engineering said he is prepared to begin assembling bid documents for a contractors’ request for proposals and will collaborate with Kroll and the Michigan Department of Transportation to move the procurement forward.
The authority did not disclose estimated replacement costs or a timeline beyond the spring window for the Ironton-side cable work. The board’s next steps are to proceed with RFP preparation and to refine maintenance contingency plans before winter service ceases.
